Thread by @TracyNovick

Apparently, we are getting a primer on #MAEdu charter funding this morning (my laptop battery is going to die, so we’re going to do this via tweets)

Up for this is @jeffwulfson who has written with the most clarity on this #MAEdu

...who is arguing that charter schools are simply another out-of-district tuition model. Charter rates are intended to replicate as closely as possible the funding of the home district. #MAEdu

Largest part of it is the foundation budget component for those students ACTUALLY attending the charter; then adds above foundation spending; applied to ACTUAL ENROLLMENT (with midyear adjustments) #MaEdu

*all caps mine, based on what most often is wrong

Why not school choice rate?
School choice assumes receiving districts have empty seats, thus cover marginal costs. #MAEdu

Surplus funds required to be returned (I did not know this, but I think because the “surplus” requirements mean it doesn’t happen often)...#MAEdu

Or, not at all (to Q from Craven); funds have never been returned

Host district must provide transportation based on own policy; regional charters eligible for regional transportation reimbursement #MAEdu

Oh this is fun! This is the “but Boston will no longer have ch.70 aid!” contrary #MAEdu

Misses the point that the local taxpayers effectively bear part of the cost

100/25/25/25/25/25 for increases in charter tuition;
“effectively has never happened” since switch; currently 80% for first year

H70 returns to 100/60/40
And focuses on major changes

Wulfson notes that the initial changes happened “in a tough budget year”

And we just got “why cherry sheets” answered

(Not sure I have ever seen cherry sheets explained with quite this much zest before) #MAEdu

“It’s all commingled and loses its identity” in municipal budget #MAEdu

Sagan “but there is no accountabilty” on how they use those funds for offsetting costs of loss of charter students?

Wulfson notes that it is impossible from an accounting standard. “But they could think about it!” protests Sagan.

(Really? You don’t think they do? Terrible understanding of marginal costs here)

Impact on sending districts:
How would we define?
What are the challenges?
How much is too much?

Any funding on a limited number of students is funding that necessarily is removed from funding for all.

Two ways of looking at charter impact:
Level services benchmark: can district respond to loss of enrollment with offset savings?
Opportunity costs benchmark: what would district do with higher funding level?

Potential marginal savings depends on how many students/grades/schools

“The greater the enrollment loss, the more opportunities to achieve offset savings” ironically. #MAEdu

Overall enrollment patterns; overall district enrollment and ch.70; current building utilitization and impact on capital projects; future municipal appropriations #MAEdu

What can you tell from the stats? Not a great amount
(Holy correlation not equaling causation, Batman!)

Also, impact on other municipal departments...#MAEdu

And to consider in the “too much” question with a note that this is a piece of the larger funding debate that is going on. #MAEdu

In addressing this @MAStewartMA would like to be able to say no financial impact, thinks Board should reconsidered regulations

Morton “we should understand the full implications of decisions” #MAEdu

“I’d like to have us explore these challenges more as we move forward”

McKenna: Boston is the outlier; because it gets so little funding from the state.
(Trust that we’re going to hear about why...)

Would like to see more typical numbers
(Also, Boston isn’t a Gateway)

Moriarty “I will trade the economic profile of Holyoke for Boston any day of the week”

Moriarty talks about lack of agency among poor families

Morton: it isn’t about taking away agency from those who have choice...I want to stand up for their [those who cannot choose] right to high quality education, too.

(Rarely see Morton so emotional)

He is speaking of the students who cannot choose to leave; who represents and ensure they have a good education?

Moriarty calls this “a hard question not an easy one” #MAEdu

Peyser is once again making what had been clear foggy.

“This stature is elaborate in its details” thus a “high hill to climb” in making case that Board can use financial impact to consider charter expansion #MAEdu

@threadreaderapp unroll please